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‘DUP blocked charity cash’ - Rogan

The DUP blocked a proposal to utilise funds for charitable causes which have still not been released, Sinn Féin MLA Emma Rogan has said.

The South Down MLA was speaking after it emerged that millions from dormant bank accounts have still not been allocated despite being earmarked for charities under a government scheme.

Emma Rogan said: “It is my understanding that the Sinn Féin Finance Minister tabled a paper for an Executive meeting in December 2016 seeking agreement on a scheme for utilising over £7m in dormant funds.

“The proposal provided for £4.5m to support social investment, £1.5m for the Arts and £1m for tackling homelessness.

“The paper was cleared by the Deputy First Minister to go on to the Executive agenda but it was not cleared by the First Minister and consequently did not make it on to the final Executive agenda.

“Therefore, it is quite extraordinary for the DUP to now be blaming the failure to release these funds on anyone but themselves.”